A young Severian, first a student and then an apprentice of the Order of the
Seekers of Truth and Repentance— or, more simply, the Guild of Executioners—
commits a grave offense that, according to the guild’s custom, is punished
by death. But the masters judged otherwise, and now the apprentice
must travel a long road to the distant city of Trax to serve as
the local executioner.